Both the words "aluminium" and "aluminum" are British inventions. Both derive from "alumina", a name given in the 1700's to aluminum oxide. That word comes from the Latin "alumen", from which the word "alum" is also derived.
"Aluminum" was coined first, by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy, in 1808. He first called it "alumium", simply by adding "-ium" to "alum" (as in, the elemental base of alum, just like "sodium" is the elemental base of soda), and then added "n" to make "aluminum". In 1812, British editors replaced Davy's new word with "aluminium", keeping Davy's "n", but restoring the "-ium" suffix which coordinated with the other elements like potassium.
North Americans stuck with Davy's original "aluminum".
In Slovakia, we have a nice word for it: hlinÃk, derived from hlina (clay).
Both the words "aluminium" and "aluminum" are British inventions. Both derive from "alumina", a name given in the 1700's to aluminum oxide. That word comes from the Latin "alumen", from which the word "alum" is also derived.
"Aluminum" was coined first, by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy, in 1808. He first called it "alumium", simply by adding "-ium" to "alum" (as in, the elemental base of alum, just like "sodium" is the elemental base of soda), and then added "n" to make "aluminum". In 1812, British editors replaced Davy's new word with "aluminium", keeping Davy's "n", but restoring the "-ium" suffix which coordinated with the other elements like potassium.
North Americans stuck with Davy's original "aluminum".
In Slovakia, we have a nice word for it: hlinÃk, derived from hlina (clay).